Electric railway



(No Model.)

W. THOMPSON.

v ELECTRIC RAILWAY. No. 424.082.

Patented Mar. 25, 1890.

mum W01 r UNITED STATES \VALTER THOMPSON, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,082, dated March 25, 1890.

Application filed July 11, 1889. Serial No. 317,146. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER THOMPSON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Meriden, New Haven county, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Railway Trolleys and Switches Therefor, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable any one skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification. I

My invention relates to an electric-railway trolley or device for making moving contact with suspended current-conductors or supplywires; and it further relates to a switching device for the improved trolley.

The invention more particularly refers to a trolley having a plurality, of insulated contacts, making contact with as many suspended conductors.

The application of the invention is here shown in conjunction with -a two-wire overhead system and an upwardly-pressing under-contact device.

The principal objects of the invention are to facilitate the placing of the trolley in operative position on the conductors and to prevent the easy displacement of its cont-act wheels therefrom, and also to facilitate the switching of the trolley over branches in the conductors.

The invention essentially consists in having a member, preferably insulated, projecting beyond the plane of the edges of the contact-wheels of the trolley, so that such member may enter between the conductors and act as a guide in seating the contact-wheels against the same and as a guard to prevent the easy displacement of the conductors and trolley from operative position, and may'also act as both a guide and guard in moving over the switch.

It consists, further, in having such member rotatable, so that in moving over a switch only such member treads on or touches the switch, thereby permitting its easy movement and guidance over the same.

The invention further consists in having a forked switch-plate, preferably made of insulating material and provided with marginal flanges to confine the trolley to the plate, and formed with a guide-groove on its workingsurface for compelling .the trolley to follow the direction of the motor-car it may be connected with. It will therefore be observed that the scope of my invention is such as to contemplate many modifications in the construction, and consequently I do not limit myself to any construction.

In the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated an application of my invention, Figure 1 is a view of my improved apparatus, shown in operative position, the switch being in vertical section on a plane extending longitudinally of the guide-groove. In this view the trolley-pole or spring-pressed arm for supporting the same from the top of the car is shown as broken away. This view also shows the trolley in two positions.one in solid lines in contact with the conductors, the other in broken lines as moving over the switch. Fig. 2 is an under side plan View of my improved switch, shown as supported in position by the attached conductors. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on a plane indicated by lines 3 3 in Fig. 1.

In the said drawings like numbers of reference designate like parts throughout.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates an ordinary spring-pressed arm or pole, which is car, and which is designed to carry the trolley so as to exert an upward pressure and hold. the same in intimate contact with the under side of the suspended conductors, which comprise two supply-wires or conductors 6 and 7 for the current which is collected by the trolley and led therefrom by suitable means to the electric motor on the propelled vehicle.

Upon the head of the trolley-pole 5 are mounted suitably-shaped metallic brackets 8 and 9, having their free ends bent outwardly, as at 10, and provided with the perforations 11 and 12, arranged in opposite alignment and affording. bearings for the arbors or studs 13 14, respectively. These arbors are made of conducting material, and are each secured by their inner ends to the center of a metallic plate 15, circular in shape and formed with an inwardly and upwardly beveled edge 16.

Intermediate the plates 15 is mounted a suitably mounted upon the top of the motorsuitable wheel or disk 17, which completely insulates said parts, and is formed with fiat sides 18 and with a concaved area 19. This disk or wheel is held in fixed relation to the arbors 13 14, this being effected in the present case by means of the screws 20, which are set through the plates 15 into the body of the disk 17. The contact-wheels 21 and 22 of the trolley are loosely mounted on the respective arbors 13 and 14., so as to turn freely thereon, and are formed with deep peripheral grooves. These wheels are located, respectively, between the brackets S 9 and the plates 15, so that their flat sides lie close to such surfaces. In this construction the member 17 may be rotated with the plates 15 and the arbors 13 1*, which turn in the bearings 11 and 1.2 of the brackets, and the trolley-wheels may be rotated on the arbors, as will be clearly understood from Fig. 3. Thus at each side of the trolley a plate 15 and its connected arbor, trolley-wheel, and supporting-bracket are in electric connection with one side of the circuit, the brackets 8 and 9 being substantially the terminals of the trolley, from which the connectors are run to the respective terminals of the motor on the propelled car. The disk 17 constitutes the guiding and guard member, which projects free beyond the contact-wheels of the trolley, being unattached or unsupported beyond such contacts and projecting out therefrom.

By virtue of the outwardly-flaring ends 10 of the supporting-brackets, the deep groove of the contact-wheels, the bevel of the plates 15, and the slope or concavity 19 of the central member 17 there is formed at each side of the central plane of the trolley a widelygaping fork having a practically unbroken curved surface, so that such surface and cond uctor may be moved laterally over each other without obstruction.

It is designed to have the mouth or open end of the fork formed between the inner face of the curved ends 10 of the supportingbrackets and the opposite sides therefrom of the guiding-disk 17 of such width as to about equal the gage of the two su pply-wires, so that when the edge of the member 17 is placed anywhere in between such wires and the trolley then forced into position it will be impossible for either of the wires to get outside of the trolley. In this way absolute adjustment is insured. This feature will be readily understood from Fig. 3, wherein the conductors or wires are shown as seated in contact with the trolley-wheels, while a relative position of the trolley and the wires when adjusting the trolley in position is indicated by the dotted-in wires. By preference the edge or periphery of the wheel-like member 17 is arranged to extend considerably beyond the plane containing the edges of the contact-wheels21 22, and it is also slightly prolonged beyond the ends of the brackets 8 and 9, and because of this the member 17, when serving as a guide in placing the trolley against the conductors,

will enter the plane of the latter in advance of any other parts of the device, thus servin g more efficiently as a guiding means.

The projecting member 17, together with the extended ends of the supporting-brackets 8 and 9, act as a very safe guard in preventing thelateral displacement of the trolley and the conductors relatively to each other, and it is obvious that a very exaggerated movementwould have to be made in order to disconnect these parts and make them inoperative, especially since contact may be maintained by the trolley-wheels and the plates 15 and the ends 10 of the bracket with their adjacent wires overacousiderable vertical range. This latter feature will compensate for irregularity in the gage of the conductors, as will be obvious from the drawings.

In the present construction I have shown the rotary wheel-like member 17 as made of solid insulating material. There are many constructions which may be adopted for this element, and the same will readily suggest themselves. For the sake of lightness an insulated spoked wheel may be employed and it will fulfill all the functions required.

My improved switch for acting in conjunction with the guide-member 17 consists in a suitable plate or body 25, that is forked at 26 and provided on its three long edges with suitable downwardly-projectin g guard flanges or rails 27, which at the fork 2b are merged into a point. The ends, which are three in number, are upwardly curved, as at 28, and the switch is secured by means of suitable clamps 29 to the supply-conductors, which may be bridged over in any desirable manner, as is usual in the construction of overhead conductors. Obviously the conductor-wires 6 and 7 are insulated from each other and from the switch-plate. In the construction shown the switch-plate is made entirely of suitable insulating material-such, for instance, as wood.

The main or unforked end 30 of the switch is provided on its working or under surface with an extended guide-groove 31, which at the extreme end of the switch-plate extends in width entirely across the same and is gradually contracted as it extends lengthwise until it dies away at a point 32 beyond the fork in the switch. This grooveisfor'the purpose of insuring the guidance of the trolley onto the proper branch of the switch, though the construction of the guidingmember17 is such that without the guide-groove 31 the trolley would readily follow the direction of the attached vehicle as it is towed over the switch, since by means of such member but a single point of the trolley touches the switch, and is therefore more readily movable laterally in finding its way over the switch. However, with the use of the groove the proper guidance of the trolley is better insured, since the guide member is compelled to enter the groove, and is then guided by the same in such way that it is well-nigh impossible for it to take the wrong branch. It is supposed in the construction of the switch shown that the trolley moving from the main line is to take the branch having thegroove therein and to move along the same in the direction of the adjacent arrow a, and in moving from the branch or turn-out onto the main the trolley is supposed to take the other branch of the switch and move over the same in the direction of the adjacent arrow 1), and thence to the main, the disposition of the conductors of course corresponding to the cart-racks. In going onto the switch the movement will be accomplished without jarring, since the curved periphery ofthe guard-wheel 17 encounters the curvedsurface 28 at the ends of the switch and allows the trolley to move smoothly onto the same.

r In order to prevent the rapid wearing away of the guide member 17 in passing over the switches, the periphery of the member may be provided with a tire 33, made of any suitable durable material to take up the wear.

By the term trolley I mean any contact making device employed in electric railwaysfor maintaining connection between the moving motor-car and the conductors supplying the current thereto; and it is manifest that the improvements I have. herein. shown and described may be'applied to the ordinary truck or jockey that is superimposed upon the conductors, so as to roll over them and make branch of the switch over which the trolley.

is not to pass in going from: the main onto a turn-out. This tongue is made of suitable resilient material, and its extreme free end is arranged to rest against the guard-flange 27, so that as the trolley movesfrom the main onto the switch and is to take the course of arrow at it will be prevented from moving onto, the other branch of the switch by virtue of the end of the tongue, taking against the flange 27, thereby becoming immovable in one direction and obstructing its path. As the trol ley moves from the turn-out onto the main and passes over the branch of the switch, per arrow 1), and comes in contact with the switchtongue 35, the same will yield, since thereis' nothing to hold its free end when pressed in pass onto the main.

against the passage of the trolley in one direction, at the same time it permits it to freely pass by when moving in the reverse direction. Instead of using the spring-tongue as shown, the same result may be reached by the employment of a pivoted member having a spring for pressing it in onedirection, so as to close the mouth of the branch in the manner shown. v In the operation of the apparatus the trolley moves along in contact wit-h the conductors, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the member 17 serving to prevent lateral displacement of the trolley, so that the wires cannot be easily dislodged from contact therewith. Upon reaching the switch the edge of the member 17 is thrown against the under surface of the switch-plate, and as the trolley is towed over the switch this member is the only part that bears upon the same, and therefore-maybe easily shifted laterally, so as to follow readily in the direction of the car towing it, thereby insuring the taking of the proper branch. Upon leaving the switch the member 17 isdirected to some point in between the conductors, sothat as the spring-pressing means of the trolley-pole forces the same upwardly this member will move in between the conductors and accurately guide the contact-wheels onto the same, it being impossible for the trolley to be misplaced so .long'as the member 1'7 keeps within the width of the switch and is not consequently thrown to the outside of either of the conductors.

Among the important advantages of the in vention, it may be stated that the'trolle'y may be quickly placed in operative position against the conductors with verylittle care being required in doing the same, and it is difficult to disconnect the trolley and the conductors when once placed together,'thereby allowing contact to be made at an unusual height above the ground. the switch is subjected to little wear.

Having thus described my improvements,

what I claim as my invention, and-desire 'to 'secureby Letters Patent, isi 1. A11 electric-railway contact-making device or trolley having a plurality of contacts for making contact with a plurality of current-supplyin g conductors and provided with a member projecting free beyond 'said'con- Itmay be' easily switched, and

tacts and appropriate tov take in between the conductors for guiding the trolley in seating .it in position and guarding against the dis placement of the trolley and the conductors."

2. In an electric-railway trolley, the combination, with two independent contact-making devices for making contact with two conduct ors upon the undersurfaces thereof, of a member projecting above and intermediate the contact with two suspended conductors, thecombination, with independent insulated contact-wheels for making contact with the respective conductors, of an insulated member disposed intermediate wheels making con tact with the respective conductors and projecting beyond the plane of the edges of the wheels, so as to extend in between the conductors, for the purposes set forth.

4. In an electric-railway trolley, the combination, with independent insulated contactwheels for making contact with two suspend ed conductors, respectively, of an insulated rotatable disk or wheel arranged intermediate wheels making contact with the respective conductors and appropriate to project in between the conductors, for the purposes set forth.

5. In an electric-railway trolley, the combination, with a pair of independent insulated contact-wheels for making contact with two suspended conductors, respectively, of a rotatable insulated disk or wheel disposed between the contact-wheels and of a greater diameter than the same and having a common axis of rotation therewith, for the purpose set forth.

G. The combination, with two suspended conductors, of a trolley for collecting the current therefrom,comprising a suitable framing from which independent connect-ions may be made to the motor on the vehicle, a pair of contact-wheels mounted in the framing for making contact with the respective conductors, and an insulated disk intermediate the contact-wheels and supported upon an axle mounted in the said framing, the said contactwheels mounted also on said axle and in electric communication with the framing, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an electric-railway trolley, the combination,with two insulated brackets, of a shaft mounted in the brackets in electric connection therewith and having its ends insulated from each other, a contact-wheel mounted loosely to each end of the shaft in electric connection therewith, and an insulated disk mounted fast on the shaft intermediate the contact-wheels and of greater diameter than the wheels, so as to extend in. between the conductors, for the purpose set forth.

8. In an electric-railway trolley, the combination,with an insulated disk having portions of its sides flattened, with a concaved area intermediate the edges of the flattened portions and the circumference of the disk, a shaft for the disk and a pair of insulated brackets for mounting the shaft, the latter being in electric communication at its ends with the respective supporting-braekets, and a pair of contact-wheels having deeply-grooved peripheries and mountedloosely one at each end of the said shaft intermediate a bracket and one side of the disk, the diameter of the disk being considerably greater than that of the wheels and the concaved surface thereof forming a practically-uhbroken curved snr face with the grooves of the wheels, for the purpose set forth.

9. In an electric-railway trolley, the combination, with a rotatable insulated disk or wheel, a metallic plate of less diameter than the wheel, having a beveled edge and secured one upon each face of the disk or wheel and insulated from each other, an arbor projecting from the outer face of each plate in alignment with each other and forming a shaft, each arbor mounted in an insulated bracket and in electric communication therewith, and a contact-wheel of less diameter than the said plates mounted on each arbor and in electric communication with the same and the adjacent plate and bracket, the beveled edge of the plate and the adjacent exposed surface of the disk and the groove of the contactwheel forming a practically unbroken curved surface, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In an electrica'ailway trolley, the combination, with a pair of contact-wheels turning about a common axis and making contact with two suspended conductors, respectively, an insulated member or disk disposed intermediate the wheels and projecting considerably beyond the plane of the edges of the same, and a guard member arranged to the outside of each wheel and projecting beyond the plane of the edge of the same and adapted to form with the adjacent wheel and the said intermediate member or disk a suitable fork, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In an electric-railway trolley making contact with the under side of two suspended conductors, the combination, with a springactuated trolley pole or arm for exerting an upward pressure, of two insulated supportingbraekets mounted upon the head of the pole, a suitably-insulated rotatable disk or wheel having a shaft mounted in the said brackets, the ends of the shaft being insulated from each other and at each end in electric communication with its adjacentbracket, and contact-wheels mounted one at each end of the shaft intermediate the adjacent bracket and the said disk or wheel, the latter being of a considerably-greater diameter than the contact-wheels, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination, with an electric-railway trolley having a member projecting intermediate its contact-wheels, of a switch located in the suspended conductors and formed with curved ends for receiving the said proj ecting member of the trolley, for the purpose set forth.

13. An electric-railway trolley-switch havin g its working-surface provided with a groove for receiving a projecting member of the trolley and insuring its guidance onto a certain branch of the switch. a

1 1. The combination, with an electric-railway trolley having an insulated disk or wheel with its edge above the plane of the edges of the contact-wheels, of a switch formed with agroove 011 the working-surface thereof for receiving the tread of saiddisk or wheel and guiding it over the switch, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. "An electric-railway trolleyhaving contact-wheels, such as 21 22, suitably insulated and independent, and a member, such as 17, projecting free beyond the edges of the contact-wheels and appropriate to extendin be- Y T tween the conductors, such asthe conductors 6 and 7, for the purposes set forth.

'16. In an electric-railwaytrolley, the combination, with independent contact-wheels, such as 21 22, for making contact with two suspended conductors, such as 6 and 7, of an" projections, such as 10 10, located at the out side of the contact-Wheels and projecting beyond the edges of the same, so as to form a widely-gaping fork with the member 17, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

17. In an electric-railway trolley, the combination, with independent contact-wheels, such as 21 and 22, for making contact with suspended overhead conductors, such as 6 and 7, of an insulated member, such as 17, disposed intermediate the contact-wheels and of a greater diameter than the same, and guard members, such as 10 10, arranged at the outside of each wheel and projecting considerably beyond the edge of the same, so as to form with the said member 17 a fork, the mouth or open end of the fork being of less width than the gage of the conductors, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

18. In an electric-railway trolley, the combination, with an insulated disk or wheel 17, of a plate 15, secured to each side of the member 17 and formed with a beveled edge 16, a'

shaft 13 14, mounted in a pair of insulated brackets, such as 8 9, and electrically connecting the same with the plates, respectively, and a pair of contact-wheels 21 22, mounted one on each end of the shaft intermediate the brackets and the plates, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

19. The combination, with a pair of insulated brackets S and 9, mounted upon the head of a spring-actuated trolley-pole and having their ends upwardly and outwardly prolonged, as at 10, of an insulated disk or wheel 17, having a shaft 18 14, mounted in the brackets and provided upon each side thereof with I a conducting-plate 15, having a suitably-beveled edge 16, each plate in electric communication with its adjacent bracket and the adjacent end of the said shaft and insulated from each other, and contact-wheels, such as 21 22, mounted one upon each end of the shaft 13 14, intermediate a bracket and plate in electric communication with the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

20. In an electric-railway trolley, the combination, with a non-contact disk or wheel, such as 1.7, made of insulating material and mounted suitably to rotate and adapted to roll over the trolley-switch, of a tire, such as 33', for taking up the wear, substantially as described.

2 1. The combination, with a trolley having a non-contact member projecting beyond the edges of the contact wheels, of a switch, such as 25, provided with marginal guards, such as 27, and formed 'on its working-face with a groove, such as 31, for receiving the project ing member of the trolley, substantially as and forthe purpose 'set forth.

22. An overhead system for an electric railway,having suitably-suspended two-wire supply-conductors forking'at a branch in the road,

with a forked switch-plate suspended in the conductor-wires at a branching-point thereof and made of insulating material, such as wood, to insulate the conductors from each'other,

substantially as and for the purpose described.

23. An overhead system for an electric railway,havin g suitably-suspended two-wire supply-conductors 6 7, forking at a branch in the road, with a forked switch-plate 25, made of insulating material and suspended by said wires 6 7 at the fork therein, so as to insulate the wires from each other, substantially as and for the purpose described.

24. An improved electric-railway switch for overhead conductors, consisting in a switchplate 25, suspended in the conductors at a fork therein and made of insulating material, the working-surface of the plate being substantially a plane between the ends of the same and formed with upwardly-curved surfaces 28 at such ends for easing the passage of the trolley onto and off of the switch, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this. 3d day of July, 1889, in the presence of the two subscribing wit nesses.

WALTER THOMPSON. 11s.]

Vitnesses:

NORMAN McD. CRAWFORD, HARRY MASUR. 

